Channing Tatum Hides Out in a Toys “R” Us and Robs McDonald’s in Wild New ‘Roofman’ Trailer

Channing Tatum is about to take on one of his wildest roles yet. In the upcoming movie Roofman, he plays Jeffrey Manchester, a former Army Ranger who escapes prison and ends up secretly living in a Toys “R” Us store.

The twist? He’s also robbing McDonald’s restaurants by cutting through their roofs. The first trailer shows that while he might be a criminal, he’s not your usual bad guy. For instance, when he traps the workers in a freezer, he politely makes sure they have their coats so they don’t freeze.

Directed by Derek Cianfrance, the filmmaker behind Blue Valentine, Roofman is inspired by a real story. Yes, this actually happened. Manchester really did break into fast food joints through the roofs and even managed to hide inside a closed-down Toys “R” Us for months without anyone noticing.

The official description of the film says: “Based on an unbelievable true story, Roofman follows Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum), a former Army Ranger and struggling father who turns to robbing McDonald’s restaurants by cutting holes in their roofs, earning him the nickname: Roofman. After escaping prison, he secretly lives inside a Toys ‘R’ Us for six months, surviving undetected while planning his next move. But when he falls for Leigh (Kirsten Dunst), a divorced mom drawn to his undeniable charm, his double life begins to unravel, setting off a compelling and suspenseful game of cat and mouse as his past closes in.”

Besides Tatum and Dunst, the cast is packed. Peter Dinklage is in it as the manager of the toy store, Ben Mendelsohn plays a pastor, and LaKeith Stanfield, Uzo Aduba, Juno Temple, Tony Revolori, Melonie Diaz, and Jimmy O. Yang also show up. If the trailer’s anything to go by, Dinklage has a pretty major role too.

Production started in October 2024 and wrapped in December that same year. It was filmed around Gastonia, North Carolina, in places like Freedom Park and the local courthouse. Andrij Parekh, who previously worked with Cianfrance, was the cinematographer and shot the film on 35mm. The editor is Jim Helton.

The project was announced in early 2024, with Cianfrance writing the script along with Kirt Gunn. The idea originally came from writers David Stephens and Peter Petrucci. Dylan Sellers, Chris Parker, Jamie Patricof, and Lynette Howell Taylor produced it. Miramax picked up the rights later, and the film is being distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Originally set for release on October 3, Roofman will now hit theaters on October 10, 2025.

The story first caught attention through real-life news reports and features about Jeffrey Manchester, whose strange methods and low-key personality made him stand out. The A.V. Club and several other outlets have covered the film since the trailer dropped, and it’s already getting people talking, not just because of the bizarre true story, but because Channing Tatum seems to be doing something a little different this time around.

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